Family Visitor Appeals

Lynne Jones: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) oral and (b) paper-only family visitor appeals were determined by the Immigration Appellate Authority in each month since 1 January 2004; and how many of each type of appeal were successful.

Bridget Prentice: Provisional figures for the period January 2004 to March 2005 show the monthly volume of family visitor appeal decisions from an oral hearing, with appeal outcomes, at the adjudicator tier of the Immigration Appellate Authority, to be as follows:
	
		
			 Month Total oral decisions Number allowed Number dismissed Number withdrawn 
		
		
			 2004 
			 January 782 439 328 15 
			 February 459 264 184 11 
			 March 546 323 209 24 
			 April 731 391 209 24 
			 May 761 438 291 32 
			 June 789 455 309 25 
			 July 795 475 281 39 
			 August 993 607 339 47 
			 September 1,239 741 449 49 
			 October 1,648 977 614 57 
			 November 1,650 981 614 57 
			 December 1,345 791 497 57 
			  
			 2005 
			 January 1,049 538 467 44 
			 February 1,281 680 554 47 
			 March 1,315 656 579 80 
		
	
	And the provisional figures for family visitor appeals determined on the papers only, for the equivalent period, to be as follows.
	
		
			 Month Total paper decisions Number allowed Number dismissed Number withdrawn 
		
		
			 2004 
			 January 690 230 457 3 
			 February 615 222 390 3 
			 March 672 257 413 2 
			 April 637 220 417 0 
			 May 767 311 452 4 
			 June 910 358 549 3 
			 July 627 243 381 3 
			 August 908 334 572 2 
			 September 1,088 453 635 0 
			 October 1,313 450 862 1 
			 November 1,686 592 1,092 2 
			 December 1,056 382 669 5 
			  
			 2005 
			 January 1,132 412 718 2 
			 February 1,358 439 915 4 
			 March 1,294 486 806 2

Inquests

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what the average time has been between deaths and inquests in the jurisdiction of the Teesside Coroner during the last 12 months;
	(2)  how many unfinished cases there are in the jurisdiction of the Teesside Coroner; and how many are over six months old;
	(3)  what the backlog of cases requiring inquests in the jurisdiction of the Teesside Coroner is; and how many are over six months old;
	(4)  what the average time has been between deaths and inquests in the coroners' jurisdictions (a) in the North East and (b) nationally during the last 12 months.

Harriet Harman: I will write to the hon. Member for Redcar once the information is available.

Legal Aid

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans the Department has to amend the system of legal aid in fraud trials.

Bridget Prentice: The Government are committed to overhauling the laws on fraud and the way fraud trials are conducted for the 21st century ensuring that they are quicker and more effective.
	The Fraud Bill, which is currently before Parliament, will implement Law Commission proposals to remove the deception offences in the Theft Acts and replace them with a general offence of fraud which can be committed in three ways—by false representation, by failure to disclose information or by abuse of position. This will ensure that prosecutors are better placed to undertake short and effective fraud trials.
	We intend to set out our vision for the future of Legal Aid, outlining the Department's long term strategy for reform and summarising the key findings of the Fundamental Legal Aid Review, including tackling fraud, in due course.

Royal Parks Agency

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy to ensure that the Royal Parks Agency takes full account of the environmental and social impact on communities and areas surrounding Royal Parks when decisions are taken to restrict car access to those parks.

David Lammy: holding answer 13 June 2005
	It is already the policy of the Royal Parks Agency to take full account of the environmental and social impact of decisions to restrict access to the Royal Parks for motor cars.
	The agency is required under the Greater London Authority Act 1999 to consult with local authorities before introducing any measures that might affect traffic on the authorities' roads. By the same token, local authorities are required to consult the agency before introducing any measures on their roads that might affect traffic on park roads.

Tourism Statistics

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent collating statistical information relating specifically to tourism in each year since 2000, broken down by region.

James Purnell: Five main surveys are used to assess the volume, value and nature of tourism for the UK, its countries and the regions of England.
	The contract costs for these surveys since 2000 are shown in the table along with the expenditure on the UK Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) First Steps Project and English Regions TSA report.
	
		
			   £000 
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Survey expenditure   
			 International Passenger Survey(1) 3,390 3,590 3,610 3,580 4,080 (2)4,100 
			 UK Tourism Survey 625 625 630 650 665 810 
			 Leisure Day Visits — — 450 — — — 
			 UK Occupancy Survey 200 200 215 215 220 205 
			 Survey of Visits to Visitor Attractions 65 65 65 45 45 45 
			
			 Tourism Satellite Account expenditure
			 UK TSA First Steps Project — — — — 80 — 
			 English Regions TSA Project — — — — 45 — 
		
	
	(1) Data from the IPS also provide key statistics for areas other than tourism—such as migration and balance of payments
	(2) Estimated expenditure
	The surveys all provide data at both national and regional levels, so results are to the equal benefit of all English regions.
	Only survey contract costs have been provided, so human resource and other data collection costs have been excluded. For example, other data are collected by regional authorities in support of their tourism promotion objectives, though the amount spent is not held centrally.
	All expenditure has been rounded to the nearest £5,000.

MOT Computerisation Programme

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the planned installation of the MOT computerisation programme in 1,000 MOT garages is expected to be completed; when the service is due to go live; and when it will be extended to all other MOT garages.

Stephen Ladyman: MOT Computerisation went live on 18 April 2005. There are currently 2,730 garages who have conducted tests using the new system. The roll out of the system to all remaining testing stations depend on continued satisfactory performance and is planned to be completed by 31 March 2006.

Race Relations

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what percentage of staff in his Department have received training on the general and specific duties of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, broken down by (a) ethnicity and (b) grade.

Karen Buck: All staff within the Department for Transport and its Executive agencies who are responsible for conducting Race Impact Assessments have attended training or are due to attend. This includes both the general and the specific duty. Further impact assessment training will be delivered as and when there is a need to train more assessors.
	Information about the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, the General and Specific Duty, and the Race Equality Scheme 2005–08 has been communicated to all staff via internal bulletins, intranet sites, induction training and included within diversity and equality training.
	
		Number of staff who have attended training specifically on impact assessments. general and specific duty within the Department and Executive agencies
		
			 Pay band White Black Asian Mixed ethnic background Ethnicity other Ethnicity unknown 
		
		
			 PBS1 — — — — — — 
			 PBS3 — — — — — — 
			 AA 1 — — — — — 
			 AO 8 1 — — — 2 
			 EO 30 2 1 1 — 1 
			 HEO 36 1 1 — — 15 
			 SEO 23 1 — — — 6 
			 Grade 7 20 — 1 — — — 
			 Grade 6 11 — — — 1 1 
			 PB8 3 — — — — — 
			 SCS 26 — — — — — 
			 Total staff 158 5 3 1 1 26 
		
	
	Note:
	Total staff = 194
	Future training planned for 2005–06
	Further training for impact assessments is scheduled within in some Executive agencies for 2005 to increase the number of staff trained in this area.
	The central Department is also reviewing how to train all staff in the general and specific duty in 2005–06. This would increase the number of staff trained in the centre by a further 1,500 which is being considered to be mandatory training.
	In addition, DVLA is also currently reviewing the training options available to include general and specific duty training to all staff, and expects to start this training later in 2005. This would involve training a further 7,000 members of staff.

Road Charging

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what account will be taken in drawing up further proposals for road charging of the effects of the London congestion charge on (a) numbers of people travelling and (b) methods of transport used;
	(2)  what estimate the Department has made of the cost of gantry construction and installation in connection with a road pricing system in the whole of the United Kingdom.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given today to the hon. Members for Dundee, East and Romford.

Traffic Accidents (London)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) fatal and (b) non-fatal traffic accidents there were in (i) Brent East and (ii) each London borough in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The numbers of fatal and non-fatal accidents in the Brent East parliamentary constituency for the years 1997 to 2003 (the latest year available) are shown in the following table.
	
		Accidents by severity: Brent East constituency 1997 to 2003 Accidents
		
			  Fatal Injury 
		
		
			 1997 2 459 
			 1998 2 457 
			 1999 2 461 
			 2000 5 509 
			 2001 2 453 
			 2002 1 422 
			 2003 0 414 
		
	
	The equivalent information for each London borough is shown in the following table.
	
		Accidents by severity: London boroughs 1997–03 Accidents
		
			  1997 1998 
			 Local authority Fatal Injured All Fatal Injured All 
		
		
			 Westminster 16 2,525 2,541 8 2,627 2,635 
			 Camden 13 1,470 1,483 5 1,424 1,429 
			 Islington 6 1,168 1,174 7 1,282 1,289 
			 Hackney 7 1,172 1,179 9 1,162 1,171 
			 Tower Hamlets 8 1,025 1,033 6 1,144 1,150 
			 Greenwich 10 1,068 1,078 10 1,025 1,035 
			 Lewisham 5 1,357 1,362 8 1,310 1,318 
			 Southwark 8 1,547 1,555 9 1,591 1,600 
			 Lambeth 12 1,808 1,820 13 1,788 1,801 
			 Wandsworth 7 1,338 1,345 6 1,236 1,242 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 6 937 943 6 874 880 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 8 1,067 1,075 8 1,056 1,064 
			 Waltham Forest 8 924 932 7 980 987 
			 Redbridge 8 1,090 1,098 5 1,083 1,088 
			 Havering 8 1,056 1,064 4 1,057 1,061 
			 Barking and Dagenham 5 781 786 3 750 753 
			 Newham 3 1,117 1,120 2 1,160 1,162 
			 Bexley 4 726 730 6 690 696 
			 Bromley 8 1,233 1,241 10 1,166 1,176 
			 Croydon 5 1,538 1,543 7 1,486 1,493 
			 Sutton 2 710 712 3 680 683 
			 Merton 7 694 701 4 691 695 
			 Kingston upon Thames 8 654 662 6 614 620 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3 736 739 4 668 672 
			 Hounslow 11 1,330 1,341 9 1,227 1,236 
			 Hillingdon 18 1,294 1,312 5 1,170 1,175 
			 Ealing 11 1,620 1,631 8 1,491 1,499 
			 Brent 6 1,344 1,350 11 1,302 1,313 
			 Harrow 5 713 718 6 680 686 
			 Barnet 14 1,554 1,568 10 1,610 1,620 
			 Haringey 6 989 995 2 1,057 1,059 
			 Enfield 14 1,406 1,420 9 1,415 1,424 
			 London Airport 0 124 124 0 98 98 
			 City of London 3 458 461 4 444 448 
			 Greater London 263 38,573 38,836 220 38,038 38,258 
		
	
	
		Accidents
		
			  1999 2000 
			 Local authority Fatal Injured All Fatal Injured All 
		
		
			 Westminster 12 2,582 2,594 19 2,497 2,516 
			 Camden 10 1,441 1,451 8 1,426 1,434 
			 Islington 9 1,237 1,246 10 1,271 1,281 
			 Hackney 4 1,227 1,231 9 1,202 1,211 
			 Tower Hamlets 13 1,189 1,202 10 1,130 1,140 
			 Greenwich 4 1,059 1,063 4 1,066 1,070 
			 Lewisham 6 1,333 1,339 7 1,255 1,262 
			 Southwark 7 1,613 1,620 10 1,505 1,515 
			 Lambeth 3 1,903 1,906 10 1,791 1,801 
			 Wandsworth 9 1,232 1,241 9 1,256 1,265 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 6 949 955 4 922 926 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 6 1,030 1,036 5 1,050 1,055 
			 Waltham Forest 5 967 972 10 977 987 
			 Redbridge 6 1,153 1,159 14 1,157 1,171 
			 Havering 13 1,019 1,032 9 817 826 
			 Barking and Dagenham 6 749 755 6 765 111 
			 Newham 6 1,158 1,164 3 1,108 1,111 
			 Bexley 3 725 728 5 710 715 
			 Bromley 14 1,141 1,155 9 1,004 1,013 
			 Croydon 7 1,552 1,559 15 1,401 1,416 
			 Sutton 8 655 663 7 624 631 
			 Merton 5 696 701 5 691 696 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3 538 541 3 483 486 
			 Richmond upon Thames 4 625 629 2 677 679 
			 Hounslow 8 1,096 1,104 7 1,215 1,222 
			 Hillingdon 15 1,155 1,170 10 1,223 1,233 
			 Ealing 17 1,595 1,612 8 1,527 1,535 
			 Brent 11 1,327 1,338 14 1,323 1,337 
			 Harrow 8 692 700 7 607 614 
			 Barnet 15 1,563 1,578 8 1,543 1,551 
			 Haringey 2 983 985 7 1,244 1,251 
			 Enfield 8 1,377 1,385 12 1,434 1,446 
			 London Airport 0 84 84 0 107 107 
			 City of London 1 469 470 4 413 417 
			 Greater London 254 38,114 38,368 270 37,421 37,691 
		
	
	
		Accidents
		
			  2001 2002 
			 Local authority Fatal Injured All Fatal Injured All 
		
		
			 Westminster 15 2,377 2,392 15 2,095 2,110 
			 Camden 9 1,432 1,441 8 1,217 1,225 
			 Islington 8 1,237 1,245 8 1,096 1,104 
			 Hackney 8 1,234 1,242 10 1,027 1,037 
			 Tower Hamlets 5 1,165 1,170 10 920 930 
			 Greenwich 13 1,098 1,111 9 1,035 1,044 
			 Lewisham 14 1,238 1,252 9 1,200 1,209 
			 Southwark 14 1,521 1,535 8 1,438 1,446 
			 Lambeth 16 1,714 1,730 9 1,642 1,651 
			 Wandsworth 6 1,229 1,235 5 1,204 1,209 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 6 892 898 4 794 798 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 7 850 857 7 741 748 
			 Waltham Forest 11 871 882 6 839 845 
			 Redbridge 10 1,183 1,193 9 1,021 1,030 
			 Havering 13 960 973 7 908 915 
			 Barking and Dagenham 3 693 696 9 607 616 
			 Newham 8 1,094 1,102 6 950 956 
			 Bexley 8 712 720 8 741 749 
			 Bromley 9 1,013 1,022 9 1,097 1,106 
			 Croydon 8 1,285 1,293 13 1,217 1,230 
			 Sutton 5 648 653 6 532 538 
			 Merton 5 662 667 5 656 661 
			 Kingston upon Thames 4 460 464 3 444 447 
			 Richmond upon Thames 2 672 674 7 592 599 
			 Hounslow 11 1,184 1,195 10 1,093 1,103 
			 Hillingdon 5 1,191 1,196 6 1,133 1,139 
			 Ealing 16 1,571 1,587 16 1,477 1,493 
			 Brent 9 1,227 1,236 4 1,195 1,199 
			 Harrow 5 640 645 4 556 560 
			 Barnet 11 1,459 1,470 14 1,443 1,457 
			 Haringey 13 1,125 1,138 12 1,004 1,016 
			 Enfield 14 1,317 1,331 7 1,372 1,379 
			 London Airport 1 82 83 1 69 70 
			 City of London 2 421 423 3 378 381 
			 Greater London 294 36,457 36,751 267 33,733 34,000 
		
	
	
		Accidents
		
			  2003 
			 Local authority Fatal Injured All 
		
		
			 Westminster 11 2,115 2,126 
			 Camden 5 1,137 1,142 
			 Islington 9 991 1,000 
			 Hackney 4 1,001 1,005 
			 Tower Hamlets 5 894 899 
			 Greenwich 7 998 1,005 
			 Lewisham 11 1,156 1,167 
			 Southwark 4 1,411 1,415 
			 Lambeth 13 1,492 1,505 
			 Wandsworth 10 1,019 1,029 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 6 786 792 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 9 719 728 
			 Waltham Forest 6 832 838 
			 Redbridge 7 987 994 
			 Havering 16 831 847 
			 Barking and Dagenham 6 574 580 
			 Newham 4 915 919 
			 Bexley 4 601 605 
			 Bromley 13 874 887 
			 Croydon 13 1,132 1,145 
			 Sutton 6 541 547 
			 Merton 6 587 593 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3 429 432 
			 Richmond upon Thames 2 609 611 
			 Hounslow 7 1,013 1,020 
			 Hillingdon 5 1,047 1,052 
			 Ealing 17 1,369 1,386 
			 Brent 2 1,137 1,139 
			 Harrow 9 539 548 
			 Barnet 19 1,336 1,355 
			 Haringey 12 986 998 
			 Enfield 7 1,190 1,197 
			 London Airport 0 44 44 
			 City of London 1 293 294 
			 Greater London 259 31,585 31,844

BMG Research (Surveys)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many surveys have been sent out to residents in (a) England, (b) Adur and (c) Worthing on behalf of his Department by BMG Research entitled, "Your views on your local council"; and who pays for the surveys.

Phil Woolas: BMG have sent 8,000 questionnaires to individuals across England as part of a national survey of public satisfaction with local government and its services they are undertaking for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. As part of this sample, 10 questionnaires were mailed to individuals in Adur and 22 to individuals in Worthing.
	The survey is funded from the ODPM Local and Regional Government Research Programme.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether (a) caravans, (b) stand-alone private garages, (c) armed forces barracks, (d) hostels and (e) properties occupied by squatters, are liable for council tax.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) Caravans are not in themselves subject to council tax, but liability for council tax may arise in respect of the land (pitch) on which the caravan stands. A pitch occupied by a caravan which is somebody's sole or main residence is deemed to be a "dwelling" for council tax purposes and will therefore attract a council tax liability in the same way as other domestic types of property.
	(b) Generally, a stand alone private garage is only liable for council tax to the extent that it forms part of a larger property which itself is liable for council tax.
	(c) Living accommodation for UK armed forces which is owned by the Ministry of Defence is exempt from council tax. Contributions in lieu of council tax are payable to billing authorities by the Ministry of Defence to broadly match the amount of council tax which would otherwise have been payable. Service personnel make a contribution to this cost from their wages.
	(d) Hostels—as defined in the Council Tax (Discount Disregards) Order 1992—are liable for council tax. The owner, rather than the residents, will be liable for paying the council tax.
	(e) Properties occupied by squatters will be liable for council tax in the same way as any other dwellings.

Housing (Overcrowding)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of social housing tenants who are (a) white and (b) black or ethnic minority live in overcrowded accommodation.

Yvette Cooper: It is estimated that in 2003–04 in England the proportion of social housing tenants living in accommodation which failed the "bedroom standard" were (a) 3 per cent. for white households and (b) 14 per cent. for black and minority ethnic households. The figures are derived from the Survey of English Housing.

Beavers

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will assess the effects of introducing beavers in Scotland to the ecology of the UK; and what representations she has received in connection with plans by the Scottish Executive to proceed with release of beavers in Scotland from (a) English Nature and (b) other bodies and organisations.

Jim Knight: Responsibility for nature conservation in Scotland is devolved to the Scottish Parliament. No re-introduction of beavers into the wild in Scotland can take place without a licence granted by the Scottish Executive. Scottish Ministers are currently considering an application from Scottish Natural Heritage to re-introduce beavers but have not yet reached a conclusion.
	English Nature supports the proposal by Scottish Natural Heritage, on the grounds that it is properly researched and meets the requirements of the IUCN guidelines on introductions. However, they recognize that the re-introduction of a species that has been absent for several hundred years must proceed with great care, and address the concerns of a wide variety of interest groups. They advise that the next step should be to undertake a small scale trial re-introduction to improve predictions on impact and spread.
	No other representations have been received on this issue by Defra.

Recycling

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding (a) councils in England, (b) Guildford borough council and (c) Waverley borough council have received to support recycling in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: The main source of funding for local authorities' waste management services is the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) block of annual Government grant. It is for the local authorities to decide what proportion of the block is invested in waste management services, including recycling.
	Funding is also being provided from a variety of other sources to help authorities improve recycling rates. The Waste Minimisation and Recycling (Challenge) Fund has made available funding totalling £275 million over the four years from 2002–03 to 2005–06 for specific projects to expand recycling operations.
	Through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), credits worth £355 million have been made available over the same period as an extra source of funding, with a further £535 million available in 2006–07 and 2007–08.
	In January 2004 Elliot Morley announced that a further £20 million would be given to local authorities with responsibility for waste in England to reduce spending pressures in 2004–05.
	In December 2004 the Government announced a targeted local authority Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant totalling £260 million over the three years between 2005–6 and 2007–08. A full list of allocations to each authority in England in 2005–06 is available on the Defra website. Authorities will receive further allocations in 2006–07 and 2007–08.
	The amounts received by Guildford and Waverley borough councils from Defra funds to support recycling are shown in the following tables:
	
		A: Waverley borough council
		
			 £ 
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund 101,970 229,809 — — 
			 Grant to relieve spending pressures in the waste area — — 47,117 — 
			 Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant — — — 41,055 
		
	
	
		B: Guildford borough council
		
			 £ 
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund — 182,775 191,505 — 
			 Grant to relieve spending pressures in the waste area — — 30,780 — 
			 Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant — — — 46,648

SSSIs

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in what condition each site of special scientific interest (SSSI) has been in each year since 1997; and what the total land areas of SSSIs was in each category (a) in England and (b) broken down by (i) region and (ii) location in each year.

Jim Knight: Under the Joint Nature Conservation Committee's Common Standards for Monitoring, SSSI condition is assessed only on a six year cycle. In England, the first cycle, completed in March 2003, showed 56.9 per cent. in favourable or recovering condition, from a total area of 1,051,498 hectares. Full results for December 2003 were published by English Nature in "The Condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in England in 2003".
	According to the latest assessment carried out on each unit of SSSI land by 31 March 2004, 62.8 per cent. from a total of 1,076,704 hectares of SSSI land was in favourable or recovering condition at that time. The equivalent figure for 31 March 2005 was 67.4 per cent. from a total area of 1,072,538 hectares.
	Information on the current condition of each SSSI in England and a summary of SSSI condition in each Government region is available on the English Nature website at www.English-Nature.org.uk.

Standby Mode

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her most recent estimate is of the level of UK carbon emissions resulting in a year from electrical appliances being left in standby mode.

Elliot Morley: The most recent estimate by the Government's Market Transformation Programme (MTP) is that taken together consumer electronics, home computing equipment, domestic cooking equipment and office equipment in the UK produced approximately 800,000 tonnes of carbon (c7 TWh) in the UK during 2004.
	We are also aware that there is further energy consumption from white goods such as washing machines and dishwashers which are switched on awaiting use or after they have completed their wash cycles; consumer electronic equipment using external power supplies (eg domestic portable telephones) that continue to consume energy when plugged in but not in use; and domestic personal computer equipment where the stand-by facilities are not properly enabled. Taken together, these sources of consumption may bring the overall figure to around 1 million tonnes of carbon.
	In order to try to tackle this problem the Market Transformation Programme (www.mtprog.com) has been encouraging manufacturers to reduce both the "on" and the stand-by power consumption of household appliances through the adoption of design improvements, voluntary codes of conduct, and best practice guidelines and targets. This approach has been fairly successful in respect of televisions: an EU-wide voluntary agreement will mean that the majority of new televisions sold in the UK now consume around 1 watt of power in stand-by mode rather than the 3–8 watts consumed by older models. This agreement is currently being extended to cover other consumer electronics.
	A similar agreement for external power supplies aims to encourage new power supplies consuming around half a watt in stand-by mode compared to the present average of just over 2 watts.
	The recently agreed Framework Directive for the Eco-design of Energy Using Products (EUP), which is expected to come into force later this year will provide a streamlined and effective route for setting EU-wide environmental requirements for traded goods. EUP requires the Commission and member states to treat the issue of stand by energy consumption as a priority area for consideration. The UK will work proactively with the Commission and other member states to influence and speed the delivery of measures under EUP
	In addition the Government's initiative on sustainable procurement, announced in the autumn of 2003, includes a requirement for Government Departments which purchase computers and televisions to specify low stand-by power requirements.

Standby Mode

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the daily energy consumption resulting from the use of standby units on televisions; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Government's Market Transformation Programme estimates that in 2004 the 62 million television sets in use in the UK consumed just over 3 million Kwh per day while in stand by mode—approximately 8 per cent. of their total average daily energy consumption.
	The Market Transformation programme estimates that by 2010 the number of televisions in use in the UK will rise to 67 million.
	In order to try to reduce the overall energy consumed by televisions the Market Transformation Programme (www.mtprog.com) has been encouraging manufacturers to reduce both the "on" and the "stand-by" power consumption of televisions through the adoption of design improvements, an EU wide voluntary code of conduct, and best practice guidelines and targets.
	The EU-wide voluntary agreement on televisions has been fairly successful in reducing the average energy consumed by televisions in stand-by mode with the majority of new televisions sold in the UK soon to consume around 1 watt of power in stand-by mode rather than the 3–8 watts consumed by older models. This agreement is in the process of being extended to cover other consumer electronic equipment.
	The recently agreed Framework Directive for the Eco-design of Energy Using Products (EUP), which is expected to come into force later this year will provide a streamlined and effective route for setting EU-wide environmental requirements for traded goods. EUP requires the Commission and member states to treat the issue of stand by energy consumption as a priority area for consideration. The UK will work proactively with the Commission and other member states to influence and speed the delivery of measures under EUP.
	In addition the Government's initiative on sustainable procurement, announced in the autumn of 2003, includes a requirement for Government Departments which purchase televisions to specify televisions with stand-by power requirements of less that 1 watt.

Trees

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the percentage tree cover in each EU member state was (a) on the latest date for which figures are available, (b) 10 years ago and (c) 20 years ago.

Jim Knight: Based on information collected by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation forest as a percentage of land area is given in the table as follows.
	
		
			 Country 2000 1 1990 1 1980 2 
		
		
			 Austria 47 46 45 
			 Belgium/Luxembourg 22 23 23 
			 Denmark 11 10 11 
			 Finland 72 72 76 
			 France 28 27 28 
			 Germany 31 31 29 
			 Greece 28 26 45 
			 Ireland 10 7 6 
			 Italy 34 33 27 
			 Netherlands 11 11 10 
			 Portugal 40 34 35 
			 Spain 29 27 25 
			 Sweden 66 66 68 
			 United Kingdom 12 11 9 
		
	
	(5) FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000. Definitions of forest can vary between countries and over time.
	(6) FAO The Forest Resources of the ECE Region, published 1985. The years covered vary between countries, although most are around 1980. Definitions of forest can vary between countries.
	The next international compilation will be the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation's Forest Resource Assessment 2005, which is expected to be published in the autumn.

Trees

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total (a) area and (b) production in cubic metres of (i) broadleaf and (ii) coniferous woodland in England has been in each year since 1980, broken down by region.

Jim Knight: A national woodland survey is carried out by the Forestry Commission at intervals of between 15 and 20 years. Comparative areas of woodland 1 in 1980 and 1998 were published in the latest National Inventory of Woodland and Trees, Regional Inventory reports. The figures are given in the table as follows.
	
		
			  1980 2 thousand hectares 1998 3 thousand hectares 
			 Region Broadleaves Conifers Broadleaves Conifers 
		
		
			 North-East 16.2 73.3 24.5 69.2 
			 North-West 33.0 39.4 46.7 39.8 
			 Yorkshire and the  Humber 39.0 37.4 46.1 35.4 
			 East Midlands 37.8 21.6 52.9 17.9 
			 West Midlands 44.1 28.3 63.1 25.7 
			 East of England 59.4 40.7 90.2 37.5 
			 London 5.4 0.3 5.5 0.2 
			 South East 138.2 59.1 173.6 52.4 
			 South West 95.7 63.8 137.4 60.8 
			 Total England 468.8 363.9 640.0 338.9 
		
	
	(7) Excluding open space, coppice and felled areas awaiting replanting.
	(8) 1980 Census of Woodland
	(9) National Inventory of Woodland and Trees—Regional Inventory Reports. Reference dates varied by region 1995 to 1999.
	Notes:
	1. Differences in sampling methodology between 1980 and 1998 may account for some of the differences.
	2. In the 1980 Census the area assigned to broadleaves and conifers included any associated open space such as roads and rides. In the 1998 Inventory open spaces are separately identified and to obtain meaningful comparison between the two datasets the 1980 Census data has been reduced by the percentage of open space identified in the 1998 Inventory (Nationally 6.5 per cent.).
	Timber production is not recorded by region and the estimate for total England production is given in the table as follows.
	
		
			  Removals in million cubic metres overbark standing(10) 
			  Hardwoods (from broadleafed trees) Softwood (from conifer trees) 
		
		
			 1980 1.2 1.3 
			 1981 1.2 1.3 
			 1982 1.0 1.4 
			 1983 0.8 1.4 
			 1984 0.8 1.5 
			 1985 0.9 1.5 
			 1986 0.9 1.7 
			 1987 0.8 1.9 
			 1988 1.1 2.3 
			 1989 1.2 2.5 
			 1990 1.1 2.5 
			 1991 1.1 2.5 
			 1992 0.8 2.6 
			 1993 0.7 2.3 
			 1994 0.8 2.6 
			 1995 0.9 2.5 
			 1996 0.8 2.4 
			 1997 0.8 2.2 
			 1998 0.7 2.1 
			 1999 0.7 2.2 
			 2000 0.6 2.1 
			 2001 0.6 2.0 
			 2002 0.6 1.8 
			 2003 0.5 2.1 
			 2004(11) 0.5 2.4 
		
	
	1 Based on figures published in Forestry Facts and Figures for 1980–94, adjusted to consistent definition. Later figures for private sector removals estimated from a GB survey for 2000–04 and interpolated.
	2 Figures for 2004 are currently provisional.

Water/Sewerage Services

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the volume of sewage discharges from each sewage treatment works in South West London was in each of the last 10 years.

Elliot Morley: Information for most of the requested years is either incomplete, or not readily available without disproportionate effort in the available time. Readily available information is presented in the following table, where sewage works in South West London are taken to be those listed. Information for 2002 is not included as it is incomplete.
	
		Treated sewage effluent from South West London sewage treatment works for years indicated in millions m(12)
		
			 Sewage works 2001 2003 2004 1 
		
		
			 Mogden 220 225 197 
			 Esher 15.8 13.5 13.4 
			 Hogsmill A 33.5 26.9 27.6 
			 Hogsmill B 6.9 7 6.4 
			 Total(11) 276 272 244 
		
	
	(10) Includes estimated data.
	(11) Rounded.

Water/Sewerage Services

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance her Department has given to water companies and sewage service providers to ensure that their sewage treatment works meet the criteria of the EU 1991 Urban Waste and Water Treatment Directive.

Elliot Morley: In England the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive is transposed by the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994.
	Guidance to the regulations, titled "Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994, Working Document for Dischargers and Regulators, A Guidance Note" was issued to sewerage undertakers and the Environment Agency in 1997.

Water/Sewerage Services

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what penalties there are for (a) water companies and (b) sewage service providers who fail to meet the EU 1991 Urban Waste and Water Treatment Directive.

Elliot Morley: Regulation 6(2) of the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994, places a duty on the Environment Agency to ensure, through its discharge consenting powers under schedule 10 of the Water Resources Act 1991, as amended by the Environment Act 1995, that treatment standards set in the regulations are met. Where the Environment Agency considers sewerage undertakers are in breach of their consents it can undertake legal proceedings. Courts finding in favour of the Environment Agency can then levy fines.
	Sewerage undertakers also have a duty under section 94 of the Water Industry Act 1991 to provide sewage collecting systems, which is supplemented by Regulation 4 of the above-mentioned regulations. The Water Act 2003 also gives Ofwat, the Secretary of State and the National Assembly for Wales powers to impose financial penalties in certain circumstances. The approach is included in the 'Statement of policy with respect to financial penalties' which is on Ofwat's website, www.ofwat.gov.uk

Water/Sewerage Services

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of sewage service providers who are failing to meet the EU 1991 Urban Waste and Water Treatment Directive in (a) London and (b) England; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: It is the role of the Environment Agency to monitor and enforce the requirements of environmental legislation.
	Each year the Environment Agency advises Ofwat of water companies' compliance with Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive requirements contained in discharge consents. Ofwat publishes summary information in its "Levels of Service for the water industry in England and Wales" annual reports available on its website.

Private Finance Initiative

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies his Department has (a) undertaken, (b) commissioned and (c) reviewed on the efficiency of private finance initiative; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: HM Treasury assumed responsibility for PFI policy in April 2003. In July 2003 the Treasury published the document "PFI: Meeting the Investment Challenge" (available on the HM Treasury website). This distilled the findings of a number of studies into PFI that were either undertaken or reviewed by HM Treasury. References for these studies are included within the document. HM Treasury have a framework agreement in place with Partnerships UK under which it commissions work on a variety of PFI subjects on an ad hoc basis. The Treasury also takes account of the findings from NAO and PAC reports on PFI as they are published.

Tax Credit (Overpayments)

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many recipients of tax credits are being pursued for repayments as a result of overpayment of tax credits in (a) Hertsmere and (b) Hertfordshire.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC has published statistics that show estimates of the number of 2003–04 awards to families that were overpaid in each region, local authority and constituency at 5 April 2004, after finalisation. The estimates are based on samples and are subject to significant sampling uncertainty. The publication can be found on the HMRC website at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-pyts_geog0304.pdf
	Details of how overpayments are recovered are provided in the Department's Code of Practice 26 "What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit."

School Meals

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to her answer of 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 477W, on school meals, 
	(1)  what procedures are in place to monitor whether she needs to use her statutory powers to issue a directive to a school that is failing to meet current nutritional standards;
	(2)  how many directions she has issued to schools that have failed to meet the current nutritional standard, in each year since the current nutritional standards came into force.

Jacqui Smith: Local authorities or, where the budget for school lunches is delegated to them, a school governing bodies have a duty to ensure that school lunch nutritional standards are being met. We are developing monitoring arrangements in support of our drive to improve school meals.
	Support for healthy eating will be one aspect of children's services joint area reviews at local authority level.
	Ofsted will, from September, inspect and report on schools' contribution to the 'being healthy' aspect of pupil well-being. School meals will be considered as part of this.
	A separate sample survey linked to the proposed new standards is planned for the autumn.

School Meals

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 478W, on school meals, what the annual budget is of (a) the School Food Trust and (b) the School Meals Review Panel.

Jacqui Smith: As I have previously announced the School Food Trust will receive an annual budget of £5 million over the next three years. The School Meals Review Panel is an advisory group and does not have a fixed budget, although members of the panel are reimbursed for their expenditure on travel and subsistence when attending meetings.

School Funding (Bournemouth)

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on school funding in Bournemouth.

Jacqui Smith: On the latest available figures, funding for pupils aged 3–19 in Bournemouth increased by 750 per pupil in real terms between 1997–98 and 2005–06.

Bournemouth and Poole FE College

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reasons the budget of Bournemouth and Poole College of Further Education for the academic year 2005/06 is being reduced.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 25 May 2005
	Funding for further education is increasing and will rise by over £1 billion in 2005/06 compared to 2002/03—almost a 20 per cent. real terms increase over three years. Funding increases for individual colleges will depend on a number of factors including the extent to which college activities align with our key priorities. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) have not yet confirmed Bournemouth and Poole College's allocation for 2005/06. As the allocation of funding to colleges relates to the LSC's operational responsibilities. I have asked the LSC's Chief Executive, Mark Haysom, to write to the hon. Member with the information requested. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom to Annette Brooke, dated 9 June 2005
	I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills regarding FE funding for Bournemouth and Poole College. Following discussions with colleagues who work with the College, I hope the following will answer your concerns.
	Bournemouth and Poole College's Further Education allocation for 2004/05 was £22,684,000. The budget for this year, (2005/06) has been confirmed at £23,134,337—an actual increase on the previous year. Written confirmation of this amount was given to the college on 27 May.
	The LSC is aware that some FE institutions are warning of serious cuts in courses for adults, particularly part-time courses, to make ends meet while others talk of the need for staff redundancies. We have always been clear that this funding round was going to be tough and that the whole sector is going to have to make difficult choices.
	None of this is due to the LSC cutting FE budgets. In fact we have increased FE funding nationally from £3.5 billion to £4.5 billion from 2001/02 to 2005/06, an increase of 29 per cent. This year we will be increasing national funding by a further £170 million. This increase is reflected across the country with Bournemouth and Poole College seeing an increase of £450,337.
	The fact that budgets have increased does not disguise the immense challenges ahead. Public funds are always finite and there will never be enough money to do all that the LSC or the FE colleges would like to do. There are a number of key factors to explain why colleges like Bournemouth and Poole are feeling the funding squeeze. The first is their success in driving up participation and achievement. For example, we now have the highest ever level of 16–18 year olds in education and training. These numbers have to be funded and this has put a strain on budgets, leaving less for other areas and ensuring that money will be tight in the next academic year and beyond.
	Funding is also being squeezed because we are concentrating funding on key priorities we have agreed with the Government in the areas of education and training for 16–18 year olds, young people taking Apprenticeships, anyone needing to improve their literacy and numeracy and anyone without a full level 2 qualification. These priorities are vital to delivering the Government's Skills Strategy.
	Copies of "The Skills We Need": Our Annual Statement of Priorities, which sets out the key actions for this coming year, were distributed during December 2004 and this was followed by a paper outlining local priorities, several group presentations and one to one meetings with the College. The last of these was held on May 12 to finalise allocations and gave them a week to respond with views.
	We recognise this situation will not be easy and we understand that some colleges find it difficult to reduce courses outside our priorities. That is why we believe they can develop additional funding by increasing the fees for those individuals with higher-level qualifications and from employers.
	The Skills Strategy clearly emphasised the need for employers and individuals to contribute more in relation to the significant benefits they receive from education and training. That is why following consultation last year, the LSC increased the levels colleges are assumed to charge for courses from 25 per cent. to 27.5 per cent. Raising fees is designed to ensure public funds are concentrated on those people with low or no skills to bring about a better balance between public and private investment in education and training.
	In the summer of 2004, I discussed with college principals from all parts of the country the major and urgent issues facing further education. The extensive dialogue was an essential part of the LSC's commitment to work in partnership with FE in a spirit of trust, openness and transparency.
	Following this we produced an agenda for change, identifying issues crucial to the transformation of FE to meet the needs of learners and employers. For our part, the LSC made very clear the scale of the challenges that we face together and the transformation agenda that we must pursue in FE to meet those challenges. I will be speaking further about our progress during a second series of regional road shows planned for this summer.
	Trish Taylor, Executive Director for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole plans to keep you updated throughout this year with progress against our priorities for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole. In the meantime, I hope this letter answers your questions regarding funding for Bournemouth and Poole College.

Child Care

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to encourage fathers to become more involved in caring for children.

Beverley Hughes: Research has shown that fathers play a vital part in children's lives and that they can make a real difference in children's educational, emotional and social development, for both girls and boys. We have introduced a range of measures aimed at supporting fathers in their important role. For example, we have developed materials for schools on working with fathers, including a booklet on "Engaging Fathers" and an "Involving Parents Raising Achievement" toolkit. We have supported, through the Parenting Fund and the Strengthening Families Grant, projects run by organisations in the Voluntary and Community Sector which focus on fathers. We are currently considering what further measures we might put in place to meet the specific needs of fathers, and particularly to encourage them to support their children's development and learning, as we develop our work to support parents more generally.

EU Students

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the total loan subsidy consequent on the non-commercial rate of interest charged by the Student Loan Company for EU students studying in England in each year between 2006 and 2010.

Bill Rammell: Assuming that 91 per cent. of EU students are charged the full £3,000 fee and 9 per cent. charged £2,000, and assuming that 80 per cent. of them take out a fee loan and that their repayment behaviour is similar to English and Welsh students, costs are estimated to be around £40 million 1 per year (steady state at academic year 2006/07 terms). These costs are made up of the interest rate subsidy of loans together with the costs that are never repaid for example loans that are written off after 25 years or death.
	The costs of EU students studying in the UK are offset by the longer term economic benefits which they bring. It is estimated that each EU student provides a net benefit of over £6,000 per year in living expenses to the UK 2 . Multiplying this estimate for individual contributions to the UK economy by the estimated number of eligible EU students suggests that these students alone contribute £270 million per year. Of the known first destinations of EU undergraduates, 25 per cent. remain in the UK to work after graduation and on average they pay £5,000 in income tax over 1.5 years 2 . In addition there are substantial unquantifiable benefits to the UK. In particular, the UK benefits from an addition to its stock of employed manpower of a significant number of highly skilled young people. Other benefits arise from the contribution of these EU students and researchers within UK HEIs, and from having a significant proportion of the young future elite of Europe living, studying and working in this country for an important and formative period in their lives.
	1 Rounded to the nearest £10 million.
	2 Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) report "Projecting demand for UK HE from the Accession Countries" published March 2004.

Faith Awareness Training

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many civil servants in the Department received faith awareness training in 2004.

Maria Eagle: From April 2004 to March 2005, 45 staff received faith awareness training, as part of a wider session on sexual orientation, religion and belief awareness.
	The Department's intranet site provides comprehensive guidance on faith awareness for all staff, and is accessible at all times.

Freedom of Speech (SOAS)

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 6 June 2005, Official Report, column 335W, on freedom of speech, what measures she is taking to ensure that the governing body of the School of Oriental and African Studies is fulfilling its duties in this regard.

Bill Rammell: The duties on governing bodies of universities to ensure freedom of speech are statutory ones, capable of being enforced at law where a governing body has failed to carry out its responsibilities. There is no provision for the Government directly to intervene, but I am keeping in touch with developments in the sector. In particular, I welcome the intention of the sector, working through its Equality Challenge Unit, to produce guidance for universities on tackling extremism and intolerance on campus.

Graduate Earning

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what research she has collated on the lifetime levels of earnings of (a) graduates and (b) non-graduates;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the recent research findings at Swansea University that graduates can expect to earn £140,000 more over their lifetimes compared with non-graduates.

Bill Rammell: Data on lifetime earnings are rare, but we do impute such information from cross-section data sets. The following table shows gross weekly average earnings for graduates and non-graduates, by age bands. It demonstrates that the premium rises with age, as a degree opens doors to promotion and progression over the working life which are closed to non-graduates.
	
		
			  First/foundation degree (£) Level 3 and below (£) Percentage difference 
		
		
			 20–24 356 283 26 
			 25–29 472 354 34 
			 30–34 612 422 45 
			 35–39 728 445 64 
			 40–44 780 434 80 
			 45–49 719 433 66 
			 50–54 768 406 89 
			 55–59 726 385 89 
			 Total working age 610 388 57 
		
	
	Source:
	Winter 2004 LFS. Gross weekly earnings for full-time employees in England.
	We prefer to present this type of data in another format—most importantly using an accounting technique to express the benefit to a degree at today's valuation, and stripping out any other effects not related to the qualification itself.
	In doing so, the average lifetime financial benefit to a degree, compared to holders of A-levels as their highest qualification, is £120,000 in present value terms—as outlined in a previous written answer to the House (PQ 140797, 8 December 2003).
	This is entirely consistent with the University of Wales' research. It represents a strong financial benefit to university education, and provides a clear message that employers need graduates and the extra productivity and innovation that they bring to the economy.

Higher Education

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made towards achieving the target of 50 per cent. of all 18 to 30-year-olds going on to higher education by 2010.

Bill Rammell: The Department measures progress on its target of increasing participation in higher education towards 50 per cent. of those aged 18 to 30 by 2010 through the higher education initial participation rate (HEIPR). The HEIPR has risen from 41 per cent. in 1999–2000 to 43 per cent.(provisionally) in 2003–04.
	Further information on the HEIPR is available in DfES Statistical First Release 14/2005 "Participation Rates in Higher Education: Academic Years 1999/2000–2003/04 (Provisional)" published on 14 April 2005 and available from the House of Commons Library.

Higher Education (Social Classes)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of individuals who entered higher education came from each social class in each of the past 10 years for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information showing the proportion of young (under 21) people from each social class who enter higher education is shown in the table. The Government are committed to widening participation in higher education (HE). The Aimhigher Programme, alongside, from 2006, grants and higher education institution bursaries for students from poorer backgrounds, will enable a wider range of people to be able and willing to enter HE.
	
		Age Participation Index (API) 1 by social class Percentage
		
			  Social class 
			 Year of entry I II IIIn IIIm IV V I-IIIn IIIm-V 
		
		
			 1991 55 36 22 11 12 6 35 11 
			 1992 71 39 27 15 14 9 40 14 
			 1992 73 42 29 17 16 11 43 16 
			 1994 78 45 31 18 17 11 46 17 
			 1995 80 46 31 18 17 12 47 17 
			 1996 82 47 32 18 17 13 48 18 
			 1997 79 48 31 19 18 14 48 18 
			 1998 72 45 29 18 17 13 45 17 
			 1999 73 45 30 18 17 13 45 17 
			 2000 76 48 33 19 19 14 48 18 
			 2001 79 50 33 21 18 15 50 19 
		
	
	(13) The Age Participation index (API) is defined as the number of home domiciled young (aged less than 21) initial entrants to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses expressed as a proportion of the averaged 18 to 19-year-old GB population. The Age Participation Index has been superseded by the Higher Education Initial Participation Rate (HEIPR) which measures the participation of 18 to 30-year-olds, and in 2002 the social class categories were replaced by a new socio-economic group (SEG) classification. The Department has commissioned a report to look at disaggregating the HEIPR by SEG Class, or recommend other alternatives if this is not possible.
	Note:
	The percentages in the table represent the proportions of students from each given social class who enter HE. (The individual percentages in each column will not therefore sum to 100 per cent.)
	I—Professional
	II—Intermediate
	IIIn—Skilled (non-manual)
	IIIm—Skilled (manual)
	IV—Partially skilled
	V—Unskilled.

Public Bodies (Costs)

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the planned (a) staff numbers, (b) resource budget and (c) administration costs of the (i) Learning and Skills Council and (ii) Office of Fair Access are for each year between 2005 and 2010.

Bill Rammell: The Learning and Skills Council's estimated staffing requirement for 2005–06 is 4,230. Staffing numbers have not yet been agreed for the following years, but the LSC will meet its efficiency targets.
	The current budgets allocated to the LSC are provided in the following table. The LSC has in place measures to achieve a planned reduction in administration costs to meet their contribution to the 15 per cent. efficiency savings required across government.
	
		Learning and Skills Council budgets 2005–08 £000
		
			  2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 
		
		
			 Resource budget  (excluding administration) 9,766,668 9,339,696 9,821,463 
			 Administration 250,609 248,179 235,444 
			 Total 10,017,277 9,587,875 10,056,907 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The 2005–06 LSC budget was updated in a letter to the LSC on 13 April 2005.
	2. Budgets for 2006–07 and 2007–08 were set out in the Grant Letter from the Secretary of State to the LSC on 15 November 2004.
	3. The LSC's administration costs include funding for Depreciation and Cost of Capital that in previous years were held centrally in DfES.
	Budgets for 2008–09 and 2009–10 will be set as part of the next spending review.
	The Office of Fair Access has a budget of up to £500,000 for 2005–06 from which it meets its administration costs and performs its statutory functions. Plans for future years will be set in consultation with the Director of Fair Access.

Pupil Funding

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average (a) secondary and (b) primary school funding per pupil in England (i) was in 1997 and (ii) is in the current financial year.

Jacqui Smith: The average funding per primary pupil (aged 3–10) and per secondary pupil (aged 11–15) in England for 1997–98 and 2005–06 is:
	
		
			  1997–98 2005–06 
		
		
			 Pupils aged 3–10 2,390 3,600 
			 Pupils aged 11–15 3,260 4,410 
		
	
	Notes:
	These figures are in real terms and include funding via Education Formula Spending/Standard Spending Assessment and revenue grants allocated at an LEA level. The 2005–06 figures exclude the pensions transfer to EPS.
	Price Base: Real terms at 2003–04 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 23 March 2005
	Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of education SSA/EFS settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EPS.
	Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged 3–10 and 11–15 and exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations.
	Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.
	Status: 2005–06 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.

Schools (Weapons)

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on how many occasions in the last 12 months a pupil at a state secondary school in England has been found to be in possession of a weapon on school premises.

Jacqui Smith: A Youth Justice Board survey in 2004 showed that 1 per cent. of age 11–16 pupils in England and Wales had at some time in the last year carried a knife in school for offensive reasons, and 2 per cent. for "defensive" reasons. We propose to give head teachers a power to search for knives, and will add to existing guidance on how police, schools and other local agencies can work together, to keep knives out of our schools.

Social Exclusion

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 482W, if she will make a statement on the progress towards reaching the public service agreement target to which she refers; and how this is measured.

Beverley Hughes: The Department has a PSA target to "Improve children's communication; social and emotional development so that by 2008 50 per cent. of children reach a good level of development at the end of the Foundation Stage, and reduce inequalities between the level of development achieved by children in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged areas and the rest of England".
	The 50 per cent. level, set in July 2004 and covering the period April 2005 to March 2008, was based on the 2003 Foundation Stage Profile (FSP) results. The target level is provisional as the 2003 FSP data were "experimental statistics". The 2005 results, which will be published in a Statistical First Release in October, will inform the calculation of a challenging trajectory to enable the progress made by children to be measured. The 2005 survey will also collect for the first time information about children in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged areas and this will be used to measure the rate of development achieved by children in these areas compared to the national picture. The figures from the 2004 survey indicate that 51 per cent. of children are working securely within the Early Learning Goals for communication, social and emotional development.

Special Educational Needs

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Government's policy is on the teaching of children with special needs in mainstream schools.

Maria Eagle: The Government's overarching priority for children with SEN is that their needs should be met in an appropriate way, through an appropriate package of support. Children with less significant needs should in general be able to have their needs met in a mainstream environment, provided that appropriate support is in place. However, we recognise that mainstream schools are not suitable for some children with special educational needs. Both mainstream and special schools have a significant role to play.
	There needs to be a range of high quality provision for pupils for whom mainstream education may not be right, or may not be what their parents want. There must be strong links between special schools, mainstream schools, special units and resourced provision. This type of partnership working is a key aspect of the Government's published strategy on SEN—"Removing Barriers to Achievement".

Serious Fraud Office

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Solicitor General 
	(1)  if he will list the jurisdictions to which the Serious Fraud Office provides mutual legal assistance with regard to allegations of overseas corruption offences;
	(2)  how many requests for mutual legal assistance from foreign jurisdictions the Serious Fraud Office has received which relate to allegations of overseas corruption offences in the last 10 years; and if he will list the jurisdictions from which these requests have come;
	(3)  how many requests for mutual legal assistance from foreign jurisdictions received by the Serious Fraud Office with regard to overseas corruption have resulted in domestic investigations being opened by the Serious Fraud Office in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: To identify mutual legal assistance requests involving corruption over a 10 year period would incur disproportionate cost.
	Since 1 January 2001, the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) Unit of the Serious Fraud Office has received seven requests for assistance in cases involving corruption offences. These may relate to allegations of corruption by UK citizens or companies overseas, or to corruption by individuals or entities of the referring state.
	The SFO does not disclose details of assistance provided to overseas investigations without consent from the referring jurisdiction or unless the referring jurisdiction has made public disclosures. The requests for assistance already in the public domain were from France and Norway.
	In the last five years, there have been no requests for assistance involving corruption from overseas jurisdictions which have resulted in a domestic investigation being opened by the Serious Fraud Office. In 2003 a domestic investigation was opened following a request for assistance from Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning bribery offences as specified by the referring jurisdiction.

United States (Extradition)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on those matters the Department has to take into account and what steps it has to take when it receives a request for extradition from the US.

Mike O'Brien: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) represents the interests of states that seek extradition of persons from the United Kingdom.
	The CPS has to ensure that it fulfils the statutory requirements of the Extradition Act 2003. The United States of America (USA) has been designated a Part 2 territory by order of the Secretary of State; any request from the USA, therefore, has to comply with the requirements of Part 2 of the Act.
	The Secretary of State, who receives the formal extradition request through diplomatic channels, has to certify under section 70 of the Extradition Act 2003 that the request for extradition is "valid". A request is valid if it contains the statement that the person is accused in the category 2 territory of the commission of an offence specified in the request or is alleged to be unlawfully at large after conviction by a court in the category 2 territory of an offence specified in the request.
	The USA has been designated in that category of territory that no longer has to provide prima facie sworn evidence on those charges on which extradition is sought.
	On receipt of an extradition request, the CPS checks that it contains the required documents, including an arrest warrant or a certificate of conviction, particulars of the offence and law, and evidence of identity.
	The CPS also has to ensure that the offence specified in the request constitutes an extradition offence as defined by the Act.
	Finally, the CPS checks that the documents are admissible (namely that they are signed by a judge, magistrate or other judicial authority of the USA or are authenticated by the oath of a witness).
	If any part of the extradition request is deficient, the CPS advises the US authorities of the material required to satisfy the court in any ensuing extradition proceedings (which the CPS conducts on behalf of the USA).

Eurostar

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether passengers travelling on Eurostar (a) from Waterloo to the continent and (b) from the continent to Waterloo have their baggage checked or searched by officials.

Derek Twigg: I have been asked to reply.
	Security directions served on Eurostar by the UK Department for Transport include requirements for the searching of a specified minimum proportion of passengers and their baggage at Waterloo and Ashford International stations. The proportion is variable and is commensurate with the prevailing level of threat.
	Security arrangements in France and Belgium are the responsibilities of the French and Belgian Governments respectively. French, Belgian and UK Government officials meet regularly to discuss security and to ensure continued comparability of security standards.

Illegal Labour

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there were in 2003 and 2004 of employers who employ people illegally resident in this country.

Andy Burnham: Two defendants were proceeded against for "Employing a person subject to immigration control who has attained the age of 16" under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, Sec eight, England and Wales in 2003.
	Statistics on court proceedings for 2004 will be published in 'Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2004' in the autumn.

Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the staff at Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre previously worked at St. John's Centre at Tiffield.

Fiona Mactaggart: Five members of staff currently employed at Rainsbrook previously worked at the St. John's Centre.
	Seven other employees who have now left Rainsbrook were previously employed at St. John's.

Treatment/Rehabilitation of Offenders

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities and premises are provided by his Department in St. Albans for the provision of (a) treatment testing and (b) rehabilitation of offenders; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Drug treatment and testing is provided to offenders in St. Albans in a number of ways. The Drug Interventions Programme (DiP) provides a route out of crime and into treatment for drug misusing offenders, using their contact with the Criminal Justice System as an opportunity to engage then in treatment and support. In particular, the throughcare and aftercare elements of the programme are operating in St. Albans, with an enhanced arrest referral service and SWITCH, which picks up Prolific and Priority Offenders with treatment needs straight from prison.
	The DIP project is based at The Old Ambulance Headquarters, Ascots Lane, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 4HL.
	Offenders sentenced to Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (DTTOs)/Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRRs) (part of the new community order implemented as part of the Criminal Justice act 2003) is provided by Drugcare which provides treatment interventions, including drug testing, whilst a consultant psychiatrist assess and prescribes and delivers other medical interventions that may be required.
	For offenders with drug misuse problems not on a DRR and not assessed as a priority and prolific offender, Hertfordshire Probation Area (HPA) has contracted the provision of assessments and counselling for offenders with drug and or alcohol problems who are subject to community penalties or on licence following imprisonment with Drugcare over a number of years.
	They provide these services at HPA' offices at 62–72 Victoria Street, St. Albans AL1 3XH.

Coal Health Claims

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial disease claims for deceased miners were submitted in 2004.

Malcolm Wicks: In 2004, the number of claims submitted for deceased miners was as follows:
	
		
			  Total deceased claims registered in 2004 1 
		
		
			 COPD 84,514 
			 VWF 8 
		
	
	l Claims registered reflects the total of deceased claims registered, i.e. does not include claims that were registered live but have died since.
	Claim receipts are those claims that are fully registered, i.e. exclude pool of claims accepted with minimum data, awaiting further information to permit cross-referencing and duplicate checks prior to full registration.

Funding Allocations (Yorkshire)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to his answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, columns 113–44W, in Yorkshire and the Humber, what the distribution of (a) national funds and (b) EU funds were to (i) North Yorkshire, (ii) East Yorkshire, (iii) South Yorkshire and (iv) West Yorkshire in each of the last three years.

Alun Michael: The information is as follows:
	
		
			£ 
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Objective 1
			 European Regional  Development Fund 28,610,888 66,140,394 77,692,767 
			 European Social Fund 27,372,602 29,370,428 32,980,128 
			 European Agricultural  Guidance Guarantee Fund 1,221,622 2,896,258 2,020,678 
			 Objective 2
			 North Yorkshire 1,236,638 6,401,401 12,158,697 
			 The Humber 5,622,833 20,099,226 19,879,713 
			 West Yorkshire 7,759,821 28,966,490 22,693,470 
		
	
	Note:
	1. Figures are grant only to avoid double counting of match funding as many of the projects used other national funds as match funding.
	2. European Funding works on calendar years.
	3. Objective 3 is a national programme and cannot be split into sub-regions.
	Yorkshire Forward has made available a total of £136.30 million towards economic development in Yorkshire and Humber over the last three years (excluding European Funding) Sub-regional funding split below. Yorkshire Forward works on financial years.
	
		
			£ 
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Yorkshire Forward North  Yorkshire 1,300,000 1,800,000 2,100,000 
			 Region wide 11,100,000 12,300,000 23,900,000 
			 South Yorkshire 9,300,000 13,000,000 20,000,000 
			 The Humber 3,600,000 5,900,000 9,300,000 
			 West Yorkshire 2,500,000 9,600,000 10,600,000

Health Care Associated Infection

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research funding has been provided in the last five years by the Medical Research Council for research into the effectiveness of bacteriophages in controlling healthcare associated infection.

Alan Johnson: During the last five years the MRC has awarded two grants, totalling £303,000, to studies relating the effect of bacteriophages on bacterial infection which are, although not specifically, relevant to controlling healthcare associated infection. These are:
	Dr. J. S. Soothill (Institute of Child Health) "Investigation of the Potential of Bacteriophage for the Treatment of Staphylococcal Infection".
	Dr. J. Whyte (CAMR) "Evaluation of bacteriophage for the control of P aeruginosa infection in C.F. patients using in vivo and in vitro models".
	Government do not prescribe to individual research councils what research they fund. Research excellence and importance to health are the primary considerations in MRC's funding decisions. Research proposals received by MRC undergo full peer review and assessment by one of the MRC's research boards.

Miners Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which claims handlers have sold miners' compensation claims to solicitors; and what action he is planning to take on this issue.

Malcolm Wicks: Although the Department is aware that claims farmers have been passing claims to solicitors, we do not keep a record of individual firms.
	Currently, there are no laws covering the activities of claims handling agents where a client willingly enters into an agreement with them. However, following Sir David Clementi's review last year into the regulation of legal services, the Lord Chancellor has announced that legislation will be put forward that will see all those companies involved in claims processing come under a new legal services regulator. Such a regulator will have responsibility for ensuring that the services provided by all claims handling agents are of a required standard.

Plutonium Consignments

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when British Nuclear Fuels informed his Department that it planned to send consignments of plutonium to (a) French MOX plutonium nuclear fuel manufacturers Cogema and (b) Belgian MOX manufacturers Belgonucleaire; what details and when, of the proposed security arrangements for these plutonium transports were made available to (i) his Department and (ii) the Office of Civil Nuclear Security; when this was made available; and who will be responsible for funding for the implementation of the security arrangements for these shipments.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 15 June 2005
	I understand that BNFL is considering the transport of plutonium to France and Belgium as one of a number of options to repay loans of plutonium made to BNFL by companies in these countries. No formal plans have been submitted to the Department.
	Any such shipment will be carried out in accordance with the Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003 (NISR), which are administered and enforced by the DTFs Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS). A key requirement of the NISR is that a Transport Security Plan is submitted to OCNS for approval. All details of this plan, including dates, are confidential and it is not Government policy to release such information. OCNS will not approve the plan until it is satisfied that all measures are in place and are adequately robust to counter any credible threat. The responsibility for any costs of security arrangements falls onto BNFL.

RDAs

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what budget was available to each regional development agency in England for each of the last three financial years; how much each spent on (a) running costs and (b) management costs in each year; and what proportion of the budget each represented in each year.

Alun Michael: For financial years 2002–03 and 2003–04, information for each Regional Development Agency (RDA) in England is detailed as follows. The Department does not monitor the RDAs' spend in terms of running costs and management costs. However, these costs, included as shown, are based on certain assumptions (see footnote). Figures in bracket represent these categories as percentage of each RDA's net budget allocation for that year.
	
		
			   £000 
			  Budget Running costs(18) Management costs(18) 
			  2002–03 2003–04 2002–03 2003–04 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Advantage West Midlands 205,156 252,506 9,159(4.5) 11,908(4.7) 6,457(3.1) 7,259(2.9) 
			 East of England Development Agency 89,413 86,799 5,435(6.1) 5,810(6.7) 3,664(4.1) 4,037(4.7) 
			 East Midlands Development Agency 102,892 130,127 5,569(5.4) 6,851(5.3) 5,611(5.5) 6,027(4.6) 
			 London Development Agency 296,059 317,668 8,613(2.9) 12,980(4.1) 11,198(3.8) 13,291(4.2) 
			 North West Development Agency 274,855 338,595 10,784(3.9) 14,128(4.2) 33,347(12.1) 45,775(13.5) 
			 One North East 193,828 226,345 9,186(4.7) 12,288(5.4) 9,689(5.0) 9,736(4.3) 
			 South East England Development Agency 115,034 140,718 8,678(7.5) 12,629(9.0) 6,473(3.3) 6,645(4.7) 
			 South West of England Regional  Development Agency 101,958 104,856 7,662 (7.5) 9,541 (9.1) 8,132 (8.0) 8,378 (8.0) 
			 Yorkshire Forward 210,274 267,050 10,004(4.8) 12,093(4.5) 6,604(3.1) 7,317(2.7) 
		
	
	(18) Running costs and managements costs equates to "staff costs" and "other administration costs" respectively, as defined in the RDAs' Audited Accounts for 2003–04
	Similar information for the financial year 2004–05 is not yet available until the RDAs' annual accounts have been audited. However, indicative estimates, by applying the percentages in 2003–04 under these categories to the RDAs' net budget allocations for 2004–05, are given as follows. These figures will need to be revised after the RDAs' annual accounts have been audited and laid before Parliament in July 2005.
	
		
			£000 
			  Budget Indicative estimates 
			  2004–05 Running costs Management costs 
		
		
			 Advantage West Midlands 237,314 11,154 6,882 
			 East of England Development Agency 92,177 6,176 4,332 
			 East Midlands Development Agency 133,276 7,064 6,131 
			 London Development Agency 327,642 13,433 13,761 
			 North West Development Agency 366,968 15,413 49,541 
			 One North East 228,651 12,347 9,832 
			 South East England Development Agency 129,825 11,684 6,102 
			 South West of England Regional Development Agency 115,758 10,534 9,261 
			 Yorkshire Forward 290,497 13,072 7,843

Benefits (Derbyshire)

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents in (a) Amber Valley and (b) Derbyshire are in receipt of (i) incapacity benefit and (ii) industrial injury benefit.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the tables.
	
		Incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disability allowance (SDA) claimants in areas shown as at February 2005
		
			  Amber Valley Derbyshire 
		
		
			 IB/SDA 4,600 43,600 
			 IB 4,000 38,600 
			 SDA 500 5,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and may not sum due to rounding.
	2. IB figures include credit-only cases.
	3. Derbyshire figures are the total for the 10 parliamentary constituencies within the county of Derbyshire and Derby unitary authority.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample.
	
		Industrial injuries disablement benefit (IIDB), reduced earnings allowance (REA) and retirement allowance (RA) recipients in areas shown as at 30 September 2004
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Amber Valley 995 
			 Derbyshire 9,720 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5 to ensure anonymity.
	2. A recipient may be in receipt of IIDB or REA/RA or both.
	3. Derbyshire figures are the total for the 10 parliamentary constituencies within the county of Derbyshire and Derby unitary authority.
	Source:
	Industrial Injuries Computer System, 100 per cent. count.

Incapacity Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the total number of UK citizens claiming incapacity related benefits for each year since 1978–79; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 25 May 2005
	Information is not available in the format requested.
	As a result of numerous changes to the benefits system the information on incapacity related benefits requested is not directly comparable over the whole period.
	Incapacity related benefits between 1978 and 1983 included sickness benefit and the incapacity benefits of the time: invalidity benefit; non-contributory invalidity pension and housewives non-contributory invalidity pension.
	In 1983, Statutory Sick Pay, paid by employers, was introduced. This had the effect of removing a large number of claimants from sickness benefit.
	Between 1984 and April 1995 incapacity related benefits included sickness benefit and the incapacity benefits of the time: invalidity benefit and severe disablement allowance.
	Since 13 April 1995, sickness benefit and invalidity benefit were replaced by incapacity benefit. From that date incapacity related benefits have consisted entirely of the incapacity benefits: incapacity benefit itself plus severe disablement allowance.
	The available information is in the tables.
	
		Incapacity related benefits claimants in Great Britain on the last day of the Department's statistical year (1978–83)
		
			  Incapacity benefits(19) Sickness benefit 
		
		
			 1978 769,900 471,900 
			 1979 832,100 430,400 
			 1980 852,400 384,000 
			 1981 872,800 352,600 
			 1982 951,800 393,200 
			 1983 1,008,400 338,400 
		
	
	(19) Incapacity benefits were invalidity benefit, non-contributory invalidity pension, housewives non-contributory invalidity pension and sickness benefits credits-only cases, until 1983.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Figures include some people over pension age.
	Source:
	Information Directorate 1 per cent. Sample
	
		Incapacity related benefits claimants in Great Britain on the last day of the Department's statistical year (1984–95)
		
			  Incapacity benefits(20) Sickness benefit 
		
		
			 1984 1,073,600 190,300 
			 1985 1,146,700 179,700 
			 1986 1,219,500 178,700 
			 1987 1,305,800 109,600 
			 1988 1,421,200 117,500 
			 1989 1,557,900 109,200 
			 1990 1,699,500 103,400 
			 1991 1,862,400 109,600 
			 1992 2,061,300 138,400 
			 1993 2,283,100 147,000 
			 1994 2,451,300 127,400 
			 1995 (April) 2,627,900 127,200 
		
	
	(20) Incapacity benefits were invalidity benefit, severe disablement allowance and sickness benefits credits-only cases, up to April 1995.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Figures include some people over pension age.
	Source:
	Information Directorate 1 per cent. Sample
	
		Incapacity related benefits claimants in Great Britainat the quarter shown (1995–2004)
		
			 As at November: Incapacity benefits(21) 
		
		
			 1995 2,767,500 
			 1996 2,748,100 
			 1997 2,738,800 
			 1998 2,671,300 
			 1999 2,637,500 
			 2000 2,677,900 
			 2001 2,705,100 
			 2002 2,710,100 
			 2003 2,720,500 
			 2004 2,696,500 
		
	
	(21) Incapacity benefits are incapacity benefit, incapacity benefit credits-only and severe disablement allowance since November 1995.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred
	2. Figures include some people over pension age.
	Source:
	Information Directorate 5 per cent. sample

Incapacity Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many recipients of incapacity benefit (a) returned to work, (b) died and (c) passed the state pension age in each quarter since 1997; and what proportion of all incapacity benefit claimants each represent;
	(2)  what the proportion of terminations of entitlement to incapacity benefit has been as a result of failing the personal capacity assessment or all work test in each of the last eight years.

Anne McGuire: The numbers leaving incapacity benefits and returning to work are not recorded in this format. An estimate of the proportion of incapacity benefit leavers returning to employment can be obtained from the annual Destination of Benefit Leavers Survey (DWP In-House Research Report no. 132), which is available in the Library. The latest published figures, for 2004 benefit leavers, show that 49 per cent. of incapacity benefit leavers surveyed had returned to work of 16 hours or more per week.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		Incapacity benefit and severe disability allowance terminations each quarter by reason and proportion.
		
			  All terminations Death of claimant Percentage Award of RP Percentage Failed PCA Percentage 
		
		
			 February 1997 244,000 8,300 3.41 5,600 2.28 35,500 14.54 
			 May 1997 257,000 6,900 2.68 15,200 5.90 38,400 14.95 
			 August 1997 241,800 7,500 3.10 17,800 7.34 35,100 14.51 
			 November 1997 245,200 8,300 3.39 17,400 7.09 36,300 14.82 
			 February 1998 230,400 8,100 3.52 18,700 8.13 37,000 16.04 
			 May 1998 238,500 7,800 3.27 21,200 8.88 34,400 14.44 
			 August 1998 215,800 6,500 3.02 20,700 9.57 35,300 16.37 
			 November 1998 242,400 7,400 3.05 19,200 7.91 n/a n/a 
			 February 1999 193,700 8,100 4.20 19,400 10.02 31,900 16.46 
			 May 1999 214,400 6,900 3.24 23,300 10.85 30,300 14.13 
			 August 1999 217,400 7,500 3.43 23,500 10.79 28,200 12.96 
			 November 1999 214,400 7,100 3.32 22,000 10.25 28,300 13.18 
			 February 2000 213,300 8,800 4.11 22,900 10.73 27,600 12.92 
			 May 2000 193,400 6,800 3.52 17,000 8.79 24,600 12.74 
			 August 2000 174,800 6,300 3.59 9,200 5.26 22,900 13.10 
			 November 2000 180,400 7,000 3.88 8,400 4.67 20,300 11.23 
			 February 2001 183,400 8,100 4.44 8,900 4.84 18,700 10.20 
			 May 2001 187,300 7,300 3.89 11,300 6.01 20,200 10.78 
			 August 2001 175,200 6,700 3.80 10,200 5.83 21,600 12.34 
			 November 2001 188,400 7,200 3.82 10,000 5.31 26,400 14.01 
			 February 2002 176,200 7,500 4.24 11,200 6.33 23,900 13.56 
			 May 2002 181,100 6,200 3.41 12,100 6.67 25,700 14.21 
			 August 2002 176,400 6,500 3.68 12,500 7.11 22,800 12.92 
			 November 2002 185,900 7,600 4.09 11,100 5.95 27,000 14.51 
			 February 2003 170,600 7,300 4.29 13,400 7.88 22,900 13.45 
			 May 2003 166,200 6,500 3.94 15,500 9.32 24,400 14.71 
			 August 2003 183,200 6,800 3.69 9,200 5.04 24,600 13.44 
			 November 2003 187,200 7,100 3.78 6,000 3.23 24,700 13.22 
			 February 2004 173,200 8,300 4.77 12,500 7.24 23,500 13.55 
			 May 2004 175,600 6,600 3.78 16,300 9.27 27,100 15.41 
			 August 2004 180,600 7,100 3.92 16,700 9.27 25,600 14.16 
			 November 2004 128,900 6,700 5.21 14,200 11.01 30,100 23.36 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	2. "n/a" means not available. This is because of changes to the recording system, terminations due to the Personal Capability Assessment for this quarter are unreliable and are included in an 'Other reasons' category.
	3. Figures have been updated to include late notified terminations, including terminations for retirement pension.
	4. Figures for the latest quarter do not include any late notifications and are subject to major changes in future quarters. For illustration purposes, total terminations for August 2003 increased by 34 per cent. in the year following their initial release.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 5 per cent. samples.

Incapacity Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of incapacity benefit claims were made from people previously registered as unemployed in each year between 1990–91 and 2005–06; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the table.
	
		Proportion of incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disability allowance (SDA) commencements previously receiving jobseeker's allowance (JSA)
		
			 Year of commencement to IB/SDA All IB/SDA commencements Those who had claimed JSA within previous 90 days Proportion of IB/SDA commencements who previously claimed JSA (percentage) 
		
		
			 1 September 1995–31 August 1996 1,012,100 307,700 30.4 
			 1 September 1996–31 August 1997 997,600 312,100 31.3 
			 1 September 1997–31 August 1998 869,400 247,700 28.5 
			 1 September 1998–31 August 1999 828,900 242,200 29.2 
			 1 September 1999–31 August 2000 799,700 236,100 29.5 
			 1 September 2000–31 August 2001 775,200 227,500 29.3 
			 1 September 2001–31 August 2002 728,200 209,200 28.7 
			 1 September 2002–31 August 2003 715,600 208,300 29.1 
			 1 September 2003–31 August 2004 684,700 189,700 29.2 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Percentages are rounded to the nearest 0.1 per cent.
	2. Commencement figures are not available prior to 1995.
	3. Data are not yet available for final commencements post-August 2004.
	4. 'Claimed JSA within previous 90 days' also includes a small number of IB/SDA claims where the computer system JSA end date was up to seven days after the IB/SDA start date. This category also includes cases who may have claimed another benefit (eg income support) between JSA and IB/SDA.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 5 per cent. terminations dataset.

Occupational Pensions Regulatory Agency

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed by the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Agency in each of the last five years of its existence, broken down by grade; how many of the staff employed by the agency on 5 April are now employed by the Pensions Regulator, broken down by grade; and how many new staff have been employed by the Pensions Regulator since 6 April, broken down by grade.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is contained in the following tables. The information has been supplied by the Pensions Regulator.
	
		Staff employed by OPRA in each of the last five years of its existence (by grade) 1
		
			 Grade 31 March 2001 31 March 2002 31 March 2003 31 March 2004 31 March 2005 
		
		
			 1 7 8 6 5 3 
			 2 39 51 43 37 31 
			 3 10 11 12 9 0 
			 4 6 4 5 8 18 
			 5 14 19 26 31 41 
			 6 1 0 0 0 0 
			 7 3 7 9 4 0 
			 8 4 6 8 13 19 
			 9 31 34 37 51 48 
			 10 9 11 10 11 0 
			 11 8 8 7 11 35 
			 12 6 9 14 12 14 
			 13 9 10 11 8 1 
			 14 3 3 3 7 15 
			 15 1 1 2 1 2 
			 16 2 2 3 0 0 
			 17 1 1 1 0 0 
			 Directors 0 0 0 5 5 
			 CEO 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Chairman 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Total Brighton 156 787 199 215 234 
			   
			 AA 23 21 18 14 5 
			 AO 31 31 28 25 18 
			 EO 7 6 9 7 7 
			 HEO 3 4 4 5 4 
			 SEO 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Total Newcastle 65 63 60 52 35 
			   
			 Grand total 221 250 259 267 269 
		
	
	(22) Grade 1 is the lowest
	
		Staff employed on 5 April 2005 who are now employed by the Pensions Regulator
		
			 Grade Staff 
		
		
			 1 2 
			 2 29 
			 3 0 
			 4 18 
			 5 36 
			 6 0 
			 7 0 
			 8 18 
			 9 47 
			 10 0 
			 11 30 
			 12 13 
			 13 1 
			 14 14 
			 15 2 
			 16 0 
			 17 0 
			 Directors 5 
			 CEO 1 
			 Chairman 1 
			 Total 217 
		
	
	
		New staff employed by the Pensions Regulator (6 April 2005 to 10 June 2005)
		
			 Grade Staff 
		
		
			 1 0 
			 2 1 
			 3 0 
			 4 1 
			 5 0 
			 6 0 
			 7 0 
			 8 1 
			 9 0 
			 10 0 
			 11 0 
			 12 1 
			 13 0 
			 14 0 
			 15 0 
			 16 0 
			 17 0 
			 Directors 0 
			 Executives 2 
			 CEO 0 
			 Chairman 0 
			 Total 6

Unemployment/Incapacity

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the differential between the value of incapacity benefit and its predecessor benefits and unemployment benefit in each year between 1979–80 and 2005–06; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The information is in the tables.
	
		Nominal rates of invalidity benefit (IVB) and unemployment benefit (UB)/jobseeker's allowance (JSA) for single claimants between 1979 and 1994 £ per week
		
			  IVB (1) UB/JSA (2) Difference (1)-(2) 
		
		
			 November 1979 23.30 18.50 4.80 
			 November 1980 26.00 20.65 5.35 
			 November 1981 28.35 22.50 5.85 
			 November 1982 31.45 25.00 6.45 
			 November 1983 32.60 27.05 5.55 
			 November 1984 34.25 28.45 5.80 
			 November 1985 38.30 30.45 7.85 
			 July 1986 38.70 30.80 7.90 
			 April 1987 39.50 31.45 8.05 
			 April 1988 41.15 32.75 8.40 
			 April 1989 43.60 34.70 8.90 
			 April 1990 46.90 37.35 9.55 
			 April 1991 52.00 41.40 10.60 
			 April 1992 54.15 43.10 11.05 
			 April 1993 56.10 44.65 11.45 
			 April 1994 57.60 45.45 12.15 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual Abstract of Statistics
	
		Nominal rates of incapacity benefit short term lower (IBSTL), incapacity benefit short term higher (IBSTH), incapacity benefit long term (IBLT) and unemployment benefit (UB)/jobseeker's allowance (JSA) for single claimants between 1995 and 2005 £ per week
		
			  Difference 
			  IBSTL (3) IBSTH (4) IBLT (5) UB/JSA (6) (3)-(6) (4)-(6) (5)-(6) 
		
		
			 April
			 1995 44.40 52.50 58.85 46.45 -2.05 6.05 12.40 
			 1996 46.15 54.55 61.15 48.25 -2.10 6.30 12.90 
			 1997 47.10 55.70 62.45 49.15 -2.05 6.55 13.30 
			 1998 48.80 57.70 64.70 50.35 -1.55 7.35 14.35 
			 1999 50.35 59.55 66.75 51.40 -1.05 8.15 15.35 
			 2000 50.90 60.20 67.50 52.20 -1.30 8.00 15.30 
			 2001 52.60 62.20 69.75 53.05 -0.45 9.15 16.70 
			 2002 53.50 63.25 70.95 53.95 -0.45 9.30 17.00 
			 2003 54.40 64.35 72.15 54.65 -0.25 9.70 17.50 
			 2004 55.90 66.15 74.15 55.65 0.25 10.50 18.50 
			 2005 57.65 68.20 76.45 56.20 1.45 12.00 20.25 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual Abstract of Statistics

Afghanistan

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which units are designated by his Department to be deployed to Afghanistan during (a) 2005 and (b) 2006.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom will deploy the 1st Battalion The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment to Afghanistan in October 2005, to replace the 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, as our principal contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul and Northern Afghanistan.
	In May 2006, the Headquarters Group of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) will deploy to Kabul as the Headquarters of the ISAF. We are currently assessing the nature and scale of our future commitment in Afghanistan.

Nuclear Deterrent

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a decision will be taken on the replacement of Trident; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: I have nothing to add to the answer that I gave on 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 466W to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis).

Service Personnel (Remuneration)

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the (a) Royal Navy, (b) British Army and (c) Royal Air Force have resigned citing poor financial remuneration as their principal reason for leaving since 2003.

Don Touhig: Exit Surveys are conducted within the Naval Services and RAF but only a relatively small proportion of those choosing to leave respond. Therefore, the results cannot be seen as representative of their Services as a whole.
	Within the Naval Service only the Fleet organisation (some 67 per cent. of total Naval Service) run an Exit Survey. Of the 759 personnel who did respond between October 2003 and July 2004,15 per cent. of Royal Naval and 46 per cent. of the Royal Marines personnel quoted pay as their reason for leaving.
	In the RAF in 2002–03, of the 184 Officers who responded, "pay and remuneration" issues ranked sixth in importance out of eight groups of issues for reasons for leaving, with 16 per cent. of respondents ranking them among their top three reasons for leaving. Among airmen and women for the same period, "dissatisfaction with pay" was rated as an important or very important reason for leaving by 39 per cent. of the 723 personnel who responded, placing it 57th factor in the overall list of importance. "Salary outside the RAF", however, was rated as important or very important by 62 per cent., placing it 16 overall.
	In 2003–04, the Officers' survey respondents were asked to select their top five reasons for leaving the RAF. Of the 152 respondents replying to this question, two per cent. rated "basic pay" as one of their top five reasons for leaving, ranking it 80th in a list of 98 factors. In the same period, of the 543 Airmen and women who responded to this question, 9 per cent. rated "basic pay" among their top five reasons for leaving, ranking it 18th out of a list of 102 factors.
	The Army do not currently run an Exit Survey, however, the possibility of doing so is being considered and it appears likely that they will implement such a survey in the future.

Alcohol-related Problems

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people under the age of 18 were admitted to hospital for alcohol related problems in 2004–05.

Caroline Flint: The latest data set that is available for people under the age of 18 admitted to hospital for alcohol related problems is for 2003–04. This is shown in the table.
	
		Counts of finished admission episodes where there was a primary diagnosis code or cause code for selected alcohol related diseases. Age at admission between 0–18 years. national health service hospitals, England 2003–04
		
			 Primary diagnosis Number 
		
		
			 F10 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol 3,934 
			 K70 Alcoholic liver disease 1 
			 T51 Toxic effect of alcohol 712 
			 Cause code  
			 X45 Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol 396 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002–03) diagnosis fields in the hospital episode statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	3. The cause code is a supplementary code that indicates the nature of any external cause of injury, poisoning or other adverse effects.
	4. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (that is, the data are ungrossed).
	Source:
	Hospital episode statistics, Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Anaesthetic Awareness

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what procedures are used to encourage patients to report anaesthetic awareness;
	(2)  how many cases of anaesthetic awareness have been recorded in England in each year since 1997;
	(3)  what procedures are used in the NHS to detect anaesthetic awareness; and what routine checks are made in hospitals to prevent its incidence.

Jane Kennedy: There are currently no procedures to encourage specific reporting of anaesthetic awareness by patients and the Department does not routinely collect information about the number of cases.
	However, the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) that we established in July 2001 to improve the safety of national health service patient care by promoting an open and fair culture has in place a national reporting and learning system for adverse events across the NHS. The NPSA is about to start a pilot to encourage patients to report all patient safety incidents, including those involving anaesthetic awareness.
	The NPSA has also undertaken a review of the anaesthetic process. This involved taking a "standard patient journey" and working through the whole process, identifying and analysing the risks. The NPSA is now in the process of identifying and prioritising areas for action and is being assisted in its work by a clinical speciality adviser (CSA) in anaesthetics and an anaesthetic reference group.
	The most important contribution to patient safety in this area is the continuous presence of a highly trained and skilled anaesthetist who has the benefit of modern equipment to deliver and monitor the patient's condition. The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, which represents more than 9,000 anaesthetists, has issued "Minimum Standards for Monitoring" in recognition of the importance of monitoring the patient throughout an anaesthetic. The Association also launched its revised guidelines, "Checking Anaesthetic Equipment", in 2004. The guidelines were developed jointly with the Royal College of Anaesthetists and their application by all anaesthetic staff will help to improve patient safety.

Antimicrobial Strategy and Action Plan

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Department has to update the June 2000 Antimicrobial Strategy and Action Plan.

Jane Kennedy: We do not plan to revise the United Kingdom "Antimicrobial Strategy and Action Plan" as the aims and objectives are being taken forward by the Specialist Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance.

Arm's Length Bodies

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total budget for arm's-length bodies contained within the Department's review of arm's length bodies is for 2005–06; and what this figure was in (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2003–04.

Jane Kennedy: The recurrent operating costs for the Department's arm's length bodies (ALBs) for the years in question are shown in the table.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2003–04 1,842 
			 2004–05 2,063 
			 2005–06 1,780 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. 2003–04 costs include 2004–05 costs of the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection and the Commission for Social Care Inspection since these bodies were in start-up mode in 2003–04.
	2. 2004–05 costs increased because of taking on of new services, new ALBs and ALBs coming fully on stream.
	3. 2005–06 costs do not include £50 million of non-recurrent costs.

Arrhythmia

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of arrhythmia were treated by (a) the Acute Trust and (b) community trusts, including GP services, in Gloucestershire in the last year for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: Information on numbers of arrhythmia cases treated is collected centrally by trust, but not for general practitioner services. Figures for community trusts in Gloucestershire are between one and five and due to reasons of confidentiality have been suppressed. The number of cases of arrhythmia that were treated at Gloucestershire hospitals national health service trust in 2003–04 are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Finished consultant episodes with a primary diagnosis of arrhythmia, which indicates the patient was attending specifically for treatment of their arrhythmia 93 
			 Finished consultant episodes with an arrhythmia diagnosis code recorded in any of the diagnosis fields—arrhythmia codes might occur in secondary fields if they are being treated as part of an overall cardiology problem 261 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.
	2. All Diagnoses count of episodes—these figures represent a count of all FCE's where the diagnosis was mentioned in any of the 14 (seven prior to 2002–03) diagnosis fields in a hospital episode statistics (HES) record.
	3. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002–03) diagnosis fields in the HES data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	4. Secondary diagnoses—as well as the primary diagnosis, there are up to 13 (six prior to 2002–03) secondary diagnosis fields in HES that show other diagnoses relevant to the episode of care.
	5. ICD-10 diagnosis codes for arrhythmia are:
	147.0 Re-entry ventricular arrhythmia
	149.0 Ventricular fibrillation and flutter
	149.1 Atrial premature depolarization
	149.2 Junctional premature depolarization
	149.3 Ventricular premature depolarization
	149.4 Other and unspecified premature depolarization
	149.5 Sick sinus syndrome
	149.8 Other specified cardiac arrhythmias
	149.9 Cardiac arrhythmia, unspecified
	P29.1 Neonatal cardiac dysrhythmia
	6. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed). HES, Health and Social Care Information Centre

British Nutrition Foundation

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role the British Nutrition Foundation has in advising her Department on food and nutrition policy.

Caroline Flint: The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) are members of the nutrition forum which was set up in 2002 to bring key stakeholders in nutrition together. The forum aimed to allow ah exchange of views, build stakeholder relationships and assist the Food Standards Agency and United Kingdom health Departments in the development and implementation of nutrition policies.
	The Government obtains its scientific advice on nutrition and health from an independent expert advisory committee, the scientific advisory committee on nutrition.

Childhood Obesity

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in England were obese (a) in 1997 and (b) in the latest period for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 6 June 2005
	The available information is shown in the following table. Although figures are requested for the United Kingdom, the Department only holds figures for England. These are taken from the results of the Health Survey for England for 1997 and 2003, the latest year for which figures are available.
	
		Obesity prevalence and population estimates in English children aged two to 15 in 1997 and 2003 Aged two to 15 with a valid body mass index (BMI) measurement
		
			  Year 
			 BMI status 1997 2003 
		
		
			 Percentage obese 12.6 16.6 
			
			 Number of children surveyed 2,854 2,833 
			
			 Surveys estimates represented as a number of the total population   
			 Number obese (million) 1.1 1.4 
		
	
	Note:
	UK national BMI percentile classification used to classify obesity in children. Population figures used are 2001 census based resident population estimates. As figures are derived from a random sample of less than 3,000 children in each of 1997 and 2003, they may be subject to some sampling error and should therefore be treated with caution.
	Source:
	Health Survey for England 2003.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been made available for research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy in each year since 1997 from (a) the Medical Research Council, (b) the Department of Health's research and development budget and (c) other sources; what research funding she plans to provide for research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the coming years; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Medical Research Council (MRC) spend on research relevant to Duchenne muscular dystrophy since 1997 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Spend 
		
		
			 1997–98 0.5 
			 1998–99 0.53 
			 1999–2000 0.59 
			 2000–01 1.13 
			 2001–02 2 
			 2002–03 1.8 
			 2003–04 2.4 
		
	
	Much of the muscular dystrophy research supported by the MRC is on-going.
	The main part of the Department's expenditure on health research is allocated to and managed by national health service organisations. Details of individual projects supported in the NHS, including a number concerned with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, can be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research.
	In 2004, the Department announced £1.6 million funding, from the Genetics White Paper, for a four year project which aims to address the cause of muscular dystrophy.

General Practitioners (Hornsey and Wood Green)

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent NHS general practitioners have been employed in each of the last five years in Hornsey and Wood Green constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Figures for all general practitioners, excluding retainers and registrars, for Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust for 2001 to December 2004 are shown in the table.
	
		All practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(23), for Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust, 2001 to December 2004 Estimated full-time equivalents
		
			  Q05 North Central London 5C9 Haringey Teaching PCT 
		
		
			 2000 757 (24)— 
			 2001 752 142 
			 2002 768 141 
			 2003 803 138 
			 2004 800 140 
			 December 2004 745 134 
		
	
	(23) General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) includes contracted GPs, general medical service (GMS) others and personal medical service (PMS) others. Prior to September 2004, this group included GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	(24) Data not applicable.
	Notes:
	1. Data as at 30 September 2000–2004 and 31 December 2004.
	2. Full time equivalent (FTE) data has been estimated using the results from the 1992–93 GMP Workload Survey For 1994 to 2003: contracted GPs—Full time = 1.00 fte; three quarter time = 0.69 fte; job share = 0.65 fte; and half time = 0.60 fte; other GP types Full time = 1.0 fte.
	For 2004: All GPs—Full time 1.0 fte; part time= 0.6 fte, and therefore may not be fully comparable with previous years.
	FTE GP Retainers have been estimated using a factor of 0.12 per session for 1994–2004.
	Source:
	National Health Service Health and Social Care Information Centre GMS and PMS statistics.

Health Bodies

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of staff of the Healthcare Commission are on zero-hour contracts.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 14 June 2005
	I understand from the Chairman of the Healthcare Commission that it employs 34 locum inspectors on zero-hour contracts.

Health Bodies

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are employed by the (a) Healthcare Commission and (b) Mental Health Act Commission expressed as (i) headcount and (ii) full-time equivalent.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 14 June 2005
	I understand from the Chairman of the Healthcare Commission that as at 31 May the Commission had a staff of 744 (708 whole time equivalents).
	I also understand from the Chairman of the Mental Health Act Commission that as at 31 May the Commission employed 42 staff (42 whole time equivalents) at its headquarters in Nottingham. This includes two executive board appointments, the Chief Executive and the Director of Finance. The Mental Health Act Commission is also responsible for the appointment of Second Opinion Appointed Doctors to carry out functions under Section 58 of the Mental Health Act 1983: currently there are 150 such appointees. Additionally, there are 102 Commissioners who are public appointees appointed under Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments rules by the NHS Appointments Commission to carry out the Commission's visiting function on behalf of the Secretary of State.

Hepatitis C

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice her Department has given to local authorities to assist them in monitoring tattoo and piercing parlours to prevent infections, with particular reference to hepatitis C.

Caroline Flint: In February 2004 the Department published "Regulation of Cosmetic Piercing and Skin-Colouring Businesses", guidance for local authorities on section 120 of the Local Government Act 2003. The guidance explains the provisions in section 120 and Schedule 6 of the Local Government Act 2003, which amend section 15 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions Act) 1982, and came into force on 1 April 2004.
	The new provisions give local authorities in England (outside London) and in Wales, specific powers relating to persons carrying on businesses of cosmetic piercing, that is, piercing of the body including the ear, and semi-permanent skin-colouring, including micropigmentation, semi-permanent make-up and temporary tattooing. Local authorities will be able to require such businesses: to register themselves and their premises; and to observe byelaws relating to the cleanliness and hygiene of premises, practitioners and equipment.
	London local authorities already have such powers under private legislation (London Local Authorities Act 1991 and the Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1981).
	These measures are intended to increase health protection and reduce the risk of transmission of blood-borne virus infections such as HIV and hepatitis B and C and other infections. The publication also contains model byelaws that local authorities may wish to adopt in their area to facilitate consistency of enforcement. It also makes reference to the Health and Safety Executive/Local Authorities Enforcement Liaison Committee, Local Authority Circular 76/2: Enforcement of skin piercing activities (October 2001). This contains comprehensive guidance on issues such as infection control, waste disposal and aftercare advice.
	Before the new provisions were introduced by the Local Government Act 2003, local authorities had powers under the Local Government (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 1982 to regulate ear piercing, tattooing, acupuncture and electrolysis by requiring registration and observance of byelaws.

Hepatitis C

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reason was for the decision not to pay the same level of compensation to the widows and dependants of those who have died from hepatitis C contracted from contaminated blood products administered under the NHS the same level of compensation paid to widows and dependants of those who have died from HIV/AIDS contracted similarly.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary for Health (Melanie Johnson) gave on 22 March 2005, Official Report, column 742W.

Hospital-acquired Infections

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  at what intervals hospital trusts are required to provide her Department with details of cases of clostridium difficile;
	(2)  whether hospital trusts are required to report cases of clostridium difficile to the strategic health authority.

Jane Kennedy: As part of the mandatory surveillance scheme, hospital trusts are required to provide the Health Protection Agency with information on "Clostridium difficile" quarterly. They are not required to routinely report cases to the strategic health authority.

London Ambulance Service

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the arrangements will be for patient involvement in the London Ambulance Service after the existing patients forum is abolished.

Rosie Winterton: The London Ambulance Service (LAS) national health service trust is fully committed to working with patients and their representatives and will continue to develop an effective relationship with them in order to improve further the quality of patient care delivered throughout London.
	It is the Government's intention to focus patient forum activity at the primary care trust (PCT) level but with arrangements in place to ensure the whole "patients' journey" is covered by forum activity. In the context of the London Ambulance Service NHS trust, it is envisaged that all London PCT forums would work together to ensure that ambulance services are monitored and reviewed effectively from the patient perspective. It will be for the forums themselves to decide how best to achieve a comprehensive and robust arrangement, but one approach might be for each PCT forum to nominate one of its number to form a pan-London specialist ambulance review panel. Such an arrangement would mean that there was strong input from across the city with a membership of 29, with each London locality having a real chance to input into the LAS at both strategic and operational levels.

National Service Framework for Older People

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the implementation of the National Service Framework for Older People milestone for (a) annual medicine reviews for all people over 75 years and (b) six-monthly medicine reviews for people over 75 years taking four or more medicines;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the proportion of the population aged over 75 years being treated with four or more prescribed medicines at one time in the last period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not collect centrally the data requested.
	Strategic health authorities, as part of their performance management role, must ensure that primary care trusts within their areas are providing quality services to their patients. This includes delivering the milestones in national service frameworks.
	The national medicines management collaborative use medication reviews as measures for assessing improvements in patient care. They have monitored medication reviews for older people undertaken through general practitioner surgeries and also within care homes. Historic data for both measures, collected from the 146 PCTs taking part in the programme, suggest that there have been significant and sustained improvements in the number and quality of medication reviews.

Obesity

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to encourage people suffering from obesity to lose weight, with particular reference to those in disadvantaged areas.

Caroline Flint: Better services to help people, including those in disadvantaged areas, to lose weight and then maintain a more healthy weight are among the key issues covered in the Government White Paper "Choosing Health: Making healthy choices easier". Specific action includes an obesity awareness campaign, the development of a comprehensive care pathway and a weight loss guide.

Panton-Valentine Leukocidin

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department commissioned into the presence and spread of the strains of staphylococcus aureus with Panton-Valentine Leukocidin.

Jane Kennedy: No research has been commissioned into the prevalence of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin producing "Staphylococcus aureus". However, the Department is investigating the feasibility of a survey to establish the prevalence of community acquired staphylococcal infections, expected to provide evidence on the prevalence of "Staphylococcus aureus" with Panton-Valentine Leukocidin.

Azerbaijan

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Government of Azerbaijan regarding the arrest and detention of Mrs. Almas Guliyeva.

Douglas Alexander: We have been closely involved in the case of Mrs. Guliyeva since her arrest and detention earlier this month. Staff from our embassy in Baku have been in contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Customs Committee, the police and Mrs. Guliyeva's lawyer. In addition, on 13 June our ambassador sought clarification from the Deputy Foreign Minister on whether the Azeri authorities intend to charge Mrs. Guliyeva. We await the authorities' response.
	Shortly after she was detained, Mrs. Guliyeva fell ill, and has been hospitalised. consular staff from our embassy visited her both immediately after her detention and in hospital.

Hamas

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions he has given his diplomatic representatives in relation to contacts with Hamas in the West Bank and Gaza; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: holding answer 13 June 2005
	In February my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary authorised working-level contacts in the normal course of business with Hamas elected representatives not directly implicated in violence. The Government will not have any contacts with the leadership of Hamas until they have dropped their commitment to the destruction of Israel and given up violence as a legitimate tool.
	There have been two such meetings. One with the Mayor of Deir al-Balah on 7 March and the other with the Mayor of Qalqilya on 2 June. In both meetings British officials made clear HMG's demand that Hamas renounce violence and recognise Israel's right to exist. They also discussed the municipality services and budget and the political, economic and humanitarian situation with both mayors. No decisions were taken at either of these meetings, nor were there specific "outcomes". No further such meetings are planned.

Hepatitis C

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department gives to those travelling overseas about the dangers of contracting (a) hepatitis C and (b) other infections from tattooing.

Kim Howells: We do not provide specialist advice. However, as a part of its "Know Before You Go" travel safety campaign and through its Travel Advice service, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers general health-related advice and tips to British travellers going overseas. For example, the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk) carries a reference to the risks associated with tattooing in relation to HIV and AIDS.
	The FCO website carries a link to the Department of Health website for more detailed information on health issues.

India

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to (a) the Indian Government and (b) the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh concerning the recent murders of Pastor Isaac Raju and Pastor K Daniel.

Kim Howells: We have no plans to raise these, individual cases involving Indian citizens, with the Government of India. However we do engage with India on the wider issues raised by these cases in the course of our bilateral relationship.

India

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to (a) the Indian Government and (b) the Chief Minister of Gujarat concerning the continuing activities of militant Hindu groups in (i) Andhra Pradesh state and (ii) India.

Kim Howells: We have no current plans to make representations to the Indian Government or the Government of Gujarat about the continuing activities of alleged militant Hindu groups in India. But we do raise regularly, at various levels, the issues of political and religious freedom with the Government of India.
	The Government has a policy of non-engagement with the Government of Gujarat, including Chief Minister Modi, since the atrocities of 2002 because of our strong concerns over what was the worst outbreak of religious related violence in India for over 10 years.

Iraq

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to conduct an inquiry into the Iraqi Oil for Food programme, with specific reference to British involvement.

Kim Howells: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 23 May 2005, Official Report, column 29W and to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's response to the Foreign Affairs Committee's 6th report on Foreign Policy Aspects of the War against Terrorism, presented to Parliament on 8 June 2005, paragraph 5, page 5. The report is also available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's website at http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/Cm6590.pdf

Money Advice Strategy

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the implementation of the Government's Money Advice strategy for Northern Ireland; how much has been allocated so far; and what criteria were used to determine the recipients.

Angela Smith: Following consultation with key stakeholders, a pilot money advice project is being delivered in 2004–05 and 2005–06 by Advice NI and Citizens Advice. The Department has allocated £550,000 of funding to the pilot project. Over £231,000 of the budget available has been drawn down to date. The locations of the specialist advice posts that are being funded are based on the evidence of unmet need identified by external independent consultants, and advice from Advice NI and Citizens Advice.
	An ongoing evaluation of the pilot project will help provide the basis for developing a longer-term money advice strategy for Northern Ireland.